This dictionary represents an impressive collection of work and is an extensive revision of the well-received first edition of 2003. Plant breeding is a complex subject and covers many areas of science. Whilst reading through the dictionary, I asked three colleagues involved in plant breeding research and a postgraduate student to look through the dictionary: all four found the volume easy to access and both useful and comprehensive in its approach. This dictionary collates many of the terms and definitions of relevance to plant breeding and more recent plant biotechnology. It includes areas ranging from agronomy through breeding, conventional botany, crop physiology, biochemistry, cytogenetics, genetics to molecular biology. Perhaps the latter science is the most fast developing and is well addressed within this dictionary, though this rapidly changing area may necessitate a third edition sooner rather than later. This edition includes many improved and additional tables and illustrative figures which are a valuable resource for readers, adding to its comprehensive coverage of the diverse sciences. Readers including undergraduate and postgraduate students and research scientists across a wide spectrum of the pure and applied sciences will find this dictionary a valuable reference, and I am not aware of other competitors that can match the breadth and quality of this edition.
M. F. B. Dale
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